I read a pair of related books over the weekend, "Canoeing With the Cree" by Eric Sevareid and "Distant Fires" by Scott Anderson. These two books are both about very long canoe trips undertaken by ill-prepared kids starting in Minnesota and ending in Hudson Bay. Each was a good read. "Distant Fires" was a lot funnier, but not quite as well written. Sevareid's book was better written, but lacking in some detail. Both books were lacking technical details of the trip, although the did have some gear and food lists as well as some maps.
Sevareid's trip started in Minneapolis, followed the Mississippi to the Minnesota, and follows the Minnesota to it's headwaters. Then the cross the divide where the waters flow north and head towards Canada. Anderson's trip begins near Duluth and follow Lake Superior to Grand Portage and then roughly follows the Canadian border west for some time. I would imagine that the Minnesota River route would be very hard to follow today as I am sure that there would be a lot of portaging in muck where it is low.
I am really astounded that each of these parties made their destination. Each was under prepared and used poor gear. Still they made it. Hats off to them, I've never done anything quite as exciting myself. The kind of intestinal fortitude it took to keep going when faced with the grind of the trail must have been huge. I also can't really imagine taking canoes across such large bodies of water. While I am no expert paddler, white caps and canoes don't seem like a good mix in my mind.
One other note, Sevarieds book occasionally paints relations with Native Americans in such a way that seems a bit shocking today. The world sure has changed for the better since the 1930s.
Amazon Links Distant Fires Canoeing With the Cree
Amazon Links Distant Fires Canoeing With the Cree
